Pistons v. Celtics w/ rookie Larry Bird, Pete Maravich, Bob Ryan [3/20/1980]

Some super rare footage from USA Network's "Thursday Night NBA Basketball" broadcast March 20, 1980. Great insight into early 80's pro hoops. The press account had attendance at only 1,138 (but that might have been a typo -11,138?) at the Pontiac Silverdome.
This game is notable because it is one of just a few times that Pete Maravich started for Boston.
Four of the Celtic's five starters are Hall of Famers and Top 50 players. I believe that is the last time that happened in the NBA.
Maravich 20 points.
Maxwell 16
Cowens 15
Carr 12
Bird 11
Archibald 11
Plus Bob Ryan (ESPN's Pardon the Interruption and Around the Horn) successfully predicts the winner of the '79-80 NBA season.
Special thanks to Wayne Federman and Bob Remy.

[@MikeBarbre]

Unreal. In the interview, Bob Ryan nailed every prediction. LA would go on to have a historic season with Magic's start and center in place of Kareem for Game 1 of the Finals. But the lasting impression of this video is seeing Boston's insane starting lineup! Archibald at 1, Pistol Pete at 2, Bird at 3, Cedric Maxwell at 4, and Dave Cowens at 5. Hall of Famers, every. single. one. 1-5. Unbelievable talent at various stages of their careers. More than that, Bird admitted in his autobiography that they don't win the title in '81 without Cedric Maxwell. The guy was MVP material. Ridiculous talent on the Celtics that year.

[@SuperStrik9]

This footage is a real gem. Getting to see Pistol and Larry Legend play together is special. They didn't get a chance to play together long enough. Pete was at the end of his career and Larry was just starting his.

[@WashedCoachWith3Chips]

Imagine Bird, Cowens, Pistol, Tiny and Cornbread all in their primes on a team?! That would have been fun to watch!!

[@mitchbelles8080]

Can you imagine Pistol Pete playing in his prime with Bird? It would have been illegal

[@coltWBHS]

Pistol Pete was still able to nail those shots without knees. PURE LEGEND

[@juliusulit1141]

This footage with Bird and Maravich playing together is rare, thanks for sharing.

[@Frankincensedjb123]

Totally forgot that Maravich played half a season with Boston his last year. Imagine him in his prime playing with Bird. And Dave Cowan’s was a beast. Good stuff

[@d.c.a.71]

I had no idea Pistol Pete and Bird played together. Pretty neat to see that.

[@thomaskelly8571]

I truly think this is 1 of Auerbach's greatest regrets...that Maravich did not play in his prime for the C's. Watching footage from Red on roundball the respect and admiration these 2 shared for 1 another is obvious.

[@jmadratz]

Bob Ryan was dead on with his prognostication regarding the Celtics near term future

[@pallen49]

DAMN IT...IF only The Pistol and Larry Legend were in their prime playing together... They would've been a dynasty for sure...

[@CapAnson12345]

Astounding how well Maravich plays considering he's 32 with bad knees. He scored over 20 in 8 of the first 11 games of the season before his legs started giving out on him again. He missed two and a half months before being released, He scored 31 in a game two nights prior to this, and 20 to lead the Celtics here. He played 6 more regular season games after this one and 9 playoff games with limited action. Can only imagine what kind of havoc a healthy Maravich/Bird combo might have wrecked.

[@shinrips]

Funny how Boston's front line was all about 6'9" tall. Cowens, Bird, and "Cornbread" Maxwell. The Celts were so great. Even Tiny was so special. Tiny still holds the record for the only player ever to lead the league in scoring and assists for 1 whole season. I wonder if that record will ever be broken. Tiny was unstoppable at that time. He's past his prime here but still great.

[@liamustis6312]

What a lineup... Cowens and Maravich were passed prime and tiny to an extent was as well, while bird wasn't yet in his prime or peak of powers... Maxwell was maxwell..... Maravich and cowens shoulda stuck around one more year and won another ring when Mchale and parish showed up!!!

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

A younger Dave Cowens and Larry Bird on the same team would have been incredible to watch! No disrespect to the Chief. And with the additions of McHale and Len Bias, they would have been unstoppable!

[@brucedufelmeier8718]

Maravich was ecstatic going to the Celtics. He thought he could’ve really helped them. I remember him getting better and better. He played well in ECF against Philly. He had 33 in the deciding game. Unfortunately Larry didn’t like playing with him. Pete was hurt by that and retired. He shot 75% from the 3 point line with the Celtics coming off the bench. He played under control and looked pretty healthy. Very sad he didn’t get the chance to play a few more years with Bird and the Celtics. He never played pro ball again.

[@3243_]

This is a nice example of the most underrated era of the NBA. Yes, the league had some big problems, but the game was more athletic, there was a lot of movement away from the ball, as opposed to today's boring NBA where everyone just stands around while one guy jacks up a 3-pointer or one just slams the ball in, and there is no physical play. Back then you had rivalries, where teams hated each other, and the game was tougher, more competitive, and a lot more physical as well as more athletic.

[@BasketballJones48021]

Great upload. Shame that Pete was on his last legs, that Cowens was past his prime, that Tiny was a shell of his former self after serious injuries, and that Bird, even though already great, was a rookie. Such a shame that Maravich never got a ring, also. If everyone was in their prime, that team would've been loaded with talent, and, at least, great to watch. In fact, they had the 2nd worst record in the league in the year before Larry got there, and then when he came around, with basically the same roster, they finished with the best record and made the ECF, Bird's impact was always incredible.

[@izremler]

tiny, pistol, maxwell, bird, cowens. favorite starting lineup ever. i know they are old accept for cornbread and bird but still favorite team ever

[@victorsixtythree]

Wow...that starting lineup...80% Hall of Famers. (Only Maxwell's not in The Hall - but he WAS Finals MVP in '81 so....still not bad.)